Stuart Elizabeth Simmons

Stuart Elizabeth Simmons Couch, age 96, was called home to her Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 6th at the Woltz House in Dobson, NC. A life of 96 years is hard to summate in a few sentences, but harder still one lived as well as hers.

Stuart was born on March 22, 1930 - the 7th of 8 children - to Clarence Vernon Simmons and Emma Dale Brown Simmons. Her early childhood years were spent on the Reynolds Estate at Devotion where her father was a stonemason and her mother ran a boarding house. Her family later moved to the Mountain Park Community where she was a gifted student in school and a member of the National Honor Society. At the tender age of barely 16, an enamoured 20 year old young man named Herman Couch convinced her to leave school and marry him. That was the beginning of their 73 years of marriage marked by deeply devoted love, admiration and teamwork.

Stuart moved from her home in Mt. Park with all the modern conveniences and somewhat doting parents into Herman’s parents home on the family farm in Pleasant Ridge with what she considered to be very rudimentary accommodations. Not one to be outdone, she convinced Herman to build their own tiny home on said farm. The next several decades were spent turning a small homestead into a retreat enjoyed by family, friends, and acquaintances. Stuart achieved this through constant hard work and effort placed on mastering the household responsibilities, always seeking to improve every new iteration of anything she did with the dogged spirit of a perfectionist. (And convincing Herman he should “get on board” with her ideas!) She was a very creative and driven woman, an excellent self taught seamstress who made most of her and her daughters clothes. Any given Sunday morning would find at least one church congregant wearing one of Stuart’s hand stitched designs.

When their son began college, additional finances were needed and Stuart set about finding employment. Her knowledge of clothing and her people skills allowed her to create a successful career for herself at Cato’s in Elkin. As the local manager, she led her team to have the highest sales in the region for multiple years. New managers in training from NC and VA were sent to Elkin to learn from the best. Her success was partially due to the relationships she built with her customers. Many regulars would drive from miles away just to talk to her and share their burdens with her honest and caring spirit.

When she and Herman retired, they spent many years working together as a team and enjoying each other's company. Whatever he grew in the garden, they worked tirelessly to can or freeze every morsel of the fruit of his labor. They could often be found in the kitchen cooking together. Their son once said he could “kill for a bowl of their potato salad.” (A slight exaggeration meant as a compliment). Herman adored his “little blue eyed woman” and loved to sit and watch her as she pursued her varied interests including quilting, counted cross stitch, embroidery, etc. Their home is full of her beautiful handiwork. They even created an English Tea and Herb garden on the property - her idea of course! Whenever Stuart saw something in print or film that intrigued her, she figured out a way to recreate it herself.

Stuart was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church where for many years she taught a 5 year old Children's Sunday School class as well as doing a Card Ministry. At the time of her death she was the oldest female church member. She was a true role model to those who knew her. From co-workers, customers, friends, neighbors, and even the medical staff that cared for her over the years, many have stated that their lives changed by knowing Stuart and that her advice was inspirational and formative. Even in later life she demonstrated the grace of someone who had lived to see so many hardships when she would often say, “God must have a plan; and I am going to keep going until He calls me home.”

Stuart’s life was also marked by countless acts of selfless charity. Many of those acts were often only known to the benefactors as she would not share her quiet efforts to enrich others lives. She was truly an example of a Godly woman who loved her family and her God. Her house was always open, and clothed in strength and dignity she lived the life of the archetypal woman of Proverbs 31. To paraphrase: “her children arise and call her blessed ……..[for] a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised ….. Honor her for all her hands have done.”

In addition to her parents, Stuart was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lonnie Herman Couch; her son Larry Samuel (Sam) Couch, her infant grandson Robert Christopher Graham; her son-in-law Robert F. (Bob) Graham, III as well as her brothers: Lee, Leff, Lonnie (infant), and Frank Simmons; and sisters: Ruth Blackburn, Myrtle Pearl Wood, Ella Mae (died at 5 yrs.)

She is survived by her daughter, Glenda C. Graham; her grandson, Dr. Jonathan Stuart Graham; and her daughter-in-law, Jeanette Couch; as well as three nieces and their families.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in State Road at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Daniel Merritt and Rev. John Newton officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

 A special thanks to those involved in Stuart’s care: Vicky Collins, the Staff at Wilkes Health and Rehabilitation, Dr. Waite and Staff at Woltz Hospice and Dr. Paul Garrison. In lieu of flowers, please choose one of the following to make a memorial in Stuart’s name: Samaritan’s Purse, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Woltz Hospice, or Someone in Need. 

Online condolences may be made to www.elkinfuneralservice.com. Arrangements entrusted to Elkin Funeral Service.

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